The new Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 is a high definition compact camcorder with decent video quality and a relatively low price.
Introduction:
As the economy is still quite uncertain Sony has decided to release a few lower priced, compact camcorders with excellent specs aimed at amateurs. The Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 is one of such camcorder offering decent video quality, ease of use and very good specs for such a small device.
Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 pros:
+ It’s very easy to use. There’s not many options so nothing to mess up.
+ It turns on when you open the LCD panel, turns off when you close it.
+ The camera shoots video in 1080P, and photos in 5M,
+ The light is handy and while not very bright does come in useful in some situations.
+ Normal USB port
+ Very compatible MP4 files.
Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 cons:
- No integrated lens cover. The plastic one will get lost.
- All the auto settings are in constant flux – iris, color and zoom never seem to settle.
- 1080P has major auto focus problems
- No flash on the still photos. The light helps but not for still photos.
The design:
Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 measures 43 x 61 x 105 mm and weighs 210 grams. It is made of high quality plastics and all of its few ports are covered with protective caps. The camcorder has a traditional horizontal design, yet due to its small size it has no hand strap. As with all compact camcorders people with bigger hand may complain that the buttons are too small, but you should take that into consideration prior to purchase. It is easy and comfortable to handle the Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 with one hand and all the most important buttons are within the reach of your fingers. On the front of the camcorder you will see the f/3.3 lens, mono mic and the LED light. The right side of the Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 features the ports: AV-out, USB and DC power whereas the left side houses the power button, 2.5” LCD with 153,600 pixels along with the menu button and memory card slot. On the bottom there is the tripod mount, whereas the top features the hand grip, still photo button and small zoom toggle.
Performance:
The Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 produces great quality videos in good lighting conditions. In bright light both outdoors and indoors the colors are vivid and accurate which is thanks to the automatic white balance. In good light the noise levels are also good which only adds to the overall good quality of images. However, in low lighting conditions the Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 often struggles to achieve similar results and in most situations it disappoints. The colors are a lot darker and the noise is much more visible. The Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 records only at 30 fps in three different sizes: 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720 and 640 x 480. As the camcorder has only 12 MB of built-in memory you will have to buy a memory card to work with it. And so our tests show that you should be able to record about four and a half hours with a 16 GB Memory Stick.
The Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 works mainly in Auto mode as it does not offer too many manual settings. Moreover you get only a handful of Scene Modes to choose from, yet this is typical of compact camcorders. The zoom in Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 extends only to 5x and with the digital zoom to 20x. There are no manual focus, white balance, aperture or shutter speed settings. Color and gain are not modifiable as well.
Still photos quality:
Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 does not offer too much customizability in video recording modes so it also does not offer it for still photos. You can take 5 megapixel photos with the Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 which are 2592 x 1944 at their best. The photo quality is very similar to video quality described above so in good light you can take quite nice photos, but do not expect miracles in poor light.
Menus / ease of use:
Here we have some complaints. We always praised Sony for its very simple (almost idiot-proof) menu structure and ease of use but something happened with Sony Webbie MHS-CM1. In some sub-menus it is enough to scroll to some selection and leave the menu to make it active. In the vast majority of any kind of devices you need to confirm your selection, but not here, so you may sometimes wander whether you have selected an option or not. Only a small icon on the display indicates at the current settings so you will have to learn the symbols. Apart from that, the Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 is one of few compact camcorders to offer still photos and with its decent image quality it is worth recommending.
Selected Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 features and specifications:
Recording Media:
Internal Storage, Memory Stick PRO Duo
*
LCD Screen Size:
2.5 in
*
Video Resolution:
1440 x 1080
*
Interface Type:
A/V Output, Component Video, USB – Universal Serial Bus
*
Image Stabilization:
Optical
*
Optical Zoom:
5
Image Processor
*
Image Sensor Size:
0.4 in
*
Image Sensor Quantity:
1
*
Image Sensor:
CMOS
Lens Features
*
Digital Zoom:
20 X
*
Optical Zoom:
5 X
Video Recording
*
Image Stabilization:
Optical
*
Maximum Video Capture Resolution:
1440 x 1080
*
Video Capture Format:
MPEG-4
*
Recording Media:
Internal Storage, Memory Stick PRO Duo
General Features
*
Built-in Memory:
12 MB
*
Interface Connection:
A/V Output, Component Video, USB – Universal Serial Bus
*
LCD Screen Size:
2.5 in
*
Additional Features:
Backlight Compensation
Power
*
Battery Life:
85 minute(s)
*
Power Source:
Lithium-Ion Battery
Other recently reviewed camcorders:
Samsung SC-HMX20, Canon Vixia HF11, Sony HDR-CX12, Panasonic SDR-H60, Canon DC330, Samsung HMX-H105, JVC GZ-MG670.